Chapter 8

"Am I speaking with Mr. Laxus Dreyar?" That was the opening sentence that greeted him yesterday.

"Yes. Who is this?" was what he said.

"You have been listed as an emergency contact of Mr. Ivan Dreyar. Are you currently available?"

Laxus was about to snap a 'what the fuck has Ivan done now,' but the person at the other end of the line spoke purposefully.

"Yes. But I don't think I've given the bastard permission to use my contact details," Laxus said in a steely voice. The person at the other end seemed to have shut his trap.

"We apologize, Mr. Dreyar," the other person said.

Laxus sensed that this person finally realized who he was talking to. Good.

"Your name and number is listed in one of Mr. Ivan's identification cards, so we assumed that you were informed," the other person explained in a still-unsure tone.

"Hn," Laxus sighed, signaling the other person to continue his explanation. Honestly, Laxus does not have time for these kinds of interruptions much less coming from Ivan. When the other person has yet to speak despite his signal, Laxus lets out an impatient, "Well?"

"Oh…um…ah," the person seemingly scrambled in place, as Laxus heard frantic footsteps and shuffling of papers.

"I suggest you start speaking," Laxus warned through gritted teeth. "Do not test my patience."

"We are calling from St. Asclepius Medical Center here in Fiore. Mr. Ivan Dreyar is currently admitted in the Intensive Care Unit," the other person said.

Oh.

So that is what happened.

The bastard is finally biting dust. Frankly, it is only a matter of time before some fucking karma got the best of him.

Come on, it really was not that surprising since that bastard had probably raked so many offenses that the universe itself came-a-knockin' on his door and collected some dues.

Honestly, Laxus found it regretful that it was not him that did that bastard in.

"-yar…Mr. Dreyar? Are you still there?"

"Hah?" he snapped. "What"

Laxus heard a frustrated-sounding sigh from the other end before the tone of the voice shifted to something grave. "Please come today, so that we can explain to you the diagnosis."

The line went off, and Laxus found himself in silence. His living space seemed to have become more expansive, emphasizing how alone he was. His feet remained glued to the carpeting but he cannot feel its texture. He felt cold yet numb at the same time.

His throat felt dry, and time seemed to stretch on. Then, Laxus' sight spiraled into a dizzying blur of colors. Laxus crouched minutely, trying to focus his eyes to the ground, and using his hands to feel around until it touched the leather of the sofa.

Quickly, he sat down. Laxus fixed his gaze at the ceiling, staring unblinkingly until the world stopped spinning and everything returned to its place. Before he could stop himself, a mutter escaped his lips, "Why?"

Why, indeed, is he feeling this way?

"We have diagnosed Ivan Dreyar with a form of Magical Deficiency Disease called Ethellular Degeneration," Dr. Medella Roth, the specialist doctor said when he arrived then.

Laxus nodded once.

"It is caused by harmful substances ingested by a mage."

Again, Laxus nodded once.

"It prevents mages from properly metabolizing and converting Ethernano to Magic through a form of sepsis…"

Laxus nodded twice.

"...that poisons the cells of mages, while simultaneously preventing the body from producing healthy Ethernano."

Laxus nodded again.

"Since Magic is analogous to a lifeforce for mages…"

Laxus nodded again.

And again.

And again.

"What about treatments?" his mouth seemed to have moved on its own.

"In the meantime, we will be administering healthy water-based Ethernano through Intravenous therapy…"

Laxus nodded twice.

"...then we'll be employing imaging and scanning techniques…"

Laxus continued staring at the ground, Dr. Medella's words sounding like a distant echo, "...and we'll also be consulting with Medi-Mage Sensors to find the dosage of the contaminants in your father's body. You don't need to worry."

'Father?' Laxus found himself scandalized and insulted at the very thought that Ivan could be a 'father.'

Yes, they share the same surname. Yes, Ivan has sired him. Yes, Ivan's blood runs in his veins. But Ivan is not and has never been a father to him or to anyone else.

'And worry? Who the fuck said that he is worried?' Laxus scoffed inwardly. 'Ivan could drop dead for all he cares. It would even make this world a much better place!'

'Gramps would probably get a kick out of this,' the thought formed in Laxus' mind.

"Would you like to see him? Although you are not allowed in the ICU, you can view him from the window."

"I have to go," he said before storming out of Dr. Medella's office.

He ran through the halls, the colors blurring into a mix of sickly pale grays. He circled around until he found the stairs going down some sort of an open area.

The area was spacious. It seemed to be at the heart of the hospital, like an open park that is walled in by the towering buildings of St. Asclepius. There were trees and fine pavements where patients in wheelchairs were gently guided by staff nurses. There were fences and a playground where children litterred about. There were chairs and tables where families were taking their meals.

Laxus found himself releasing a breath he did not know he was holding, and he inhaled the fresh smell of the verdant surroundings mixed with the clean bitter smell of antiseptics.

He took out his Communication Lacrima and dialed Gramps' number. It rang for a few seconds.

"Laxus?" Gramps' voice sounded hoarse but there was an unmistakable concern lacing in the tone. "Is there something wrong?"

Laxus could not get the words out. He was supposed to say that Ivan is finally kicking the bucket!

"Laxus?" This time, the concern in Gramps' voice was more evident.

"Ivan is dying," Laxus simply said.

However, with those three little words comes the realization to the entirety of its grave message…that someone of his kin is going to perish.

Laxus slowly sat at a nearby concrete chair cautiously

"H-How…W-Why…"

Laxus began recounting the things detailed by Dr. Medella, from how Ivan is in a critical condition to the disease and its effects.

There was silence on Gramps' end, followed by muffled cries. "My son.. Ivan…Oh no…"

And Laxus sat there, listening to Gramps failing to contain his heartbreak.

"I should go," Laxus said, finding himself unable to stomach Gramps' cries anymore.

"To where?" Gramps asked.

Laxus turned off the Communication Lacrima, and bolted upwards using his Lightning Body Spell to escape this hell hole.

From there were just blurs of events, people, places and time framed and viewed through hazy and dizzying amounts of alcohol that left his tongue bitter. There were substances and smokes that reels and dips his mind to and from realistic and psychedelic. There were strobing lights and pounding sounds along with the rhythmic feel of body, sweat and leather against each other.

Laxus stumbled for a moment, and he hit something…someone.

"What the hell, man?" a man protested. Laxus took a glance at this angry little guy who was curiously drenched from head to toe, reeking of alcohol.

Laxus sniffed and sneered. "You really should watch where you're going…" he said walking closer, sizing the stupid shit up, "...buddy."

The drenched man clenched his fists, his face reddening with anger. Before anyone could intervene, a sloppy swing from the first man connected with Laxus' cheek, the impact reverberating through the club like a crack of thunder.

"Oh, it's on now," Laxus glared at the assailant, cracking his neck before punching the other man, and followed it with a series of onslaughts.

The crowd gasped as chaos erupted. Tables overturned, chairs crashed to the ground, and bodies stumbled in every direction. The initial scuffle between the two men quickly escalated into a full-blown brawl, their fists flying wildly as they grappled with each other.

Amid pandemonium that ensued beset by screams from the onlookers, the sensation of being struck across the face was a shocking jolt to Laxus' senses. The sharp sting of impact reverberated through his skull, momentarily disorienting and numbing. Laxus began to laugh, "Hahahahaha!"

"Come on! Is that the best that you can do?" Laxus taunted the man before him as the world seemed to tilt on its axis as pain radiated outwards from the parts of his body that the other man managed to hit.

"GRAAAAAGHHHHH!" the man shouted, running directly towards Laxus.

Laxus spat the blood, assuming a boxing stance to ready himself for a brawl.

As the fight raged on, the sound of breaking glass echoed through the club, mingling with shouts and curses. Each blow landed with bone-jarring force, accompanied by grunts of exertion and the sickening thud of flesh meeting flesh.

WHISTLE! A sharp, high-pitched sound silenced the chaos, and in poured a group of Rune Knights.

Laxus found himself floating midair, unable to utilize Magic. One of the Rune Knights must have cast a Spell similar to Freed's Jutsu Shiki as his body is enveloped in faint light with unfamiliar glyphs and symbols floating around him.

"Laxus, you are hereby detained under suspicion of Assault, Battery, Disorderly Conduct, Public Intoxication, and Destruction of Property," one Rune Knight announced, while another officer was stating the same to the other person he punched.

Once again, Laxus' senses blurred together in a mishmash of events…some of which probably happened, while some may have been just his mind playing some tricks. The only things that he could remember is sitting down in a jail cell…then there was a lawyer…some threats that there should not be a next time…and a Medi-Mage fixing him up.

Gradually, he felt his protracted sensations reconverging, and his sense of self returned. And so, he went to a local pub to get himself something light to drink.

That had been the case, until, of course, the scent of berries, vanilla and sanitation woke him up him.

Then there was Lucy. She joined him for some banter.


"Oh, gods! You're a genius, Dreyar! The 100 Years Quest! I am so going to write about it!" she said.

Lucy had said that he is smart. That was new. He is, by far, not stupid but he is not exactly known for his intelligence. No Dragon Slayer Mage is known for being smart. Natsu, Gajeel and Sting are all instinctual. Rogue and Cobra are too out there. Wendy…well, Wendy is a bit gullible.

And him? Frankly, he is at least self-aware to admit that he is brash.

He is clever, especially in battles but he is not intelligent like Freed, Levy or Lucy. He just knows how to go with the flow of battle. But these people…they are the people who knew how to strategize and more.


"Let's eat," Lucy said as she handed him the bowl of congee. The bowl of congee tasted subdued but it was not bland. It has a minimal flavor that is perfect for his hangover and the rainy weather.

.

.

.

"Come on," Lucy said, asking him to get out of the room. She did not ask where to go or what was happening. Unlike him, she moved and did what must be done. And as if that was not enough, she went around and fucking removed his motion sickness and hangover by copying Wendy and her Sky Dragon Slayer Healing Magic Spells. Not only that, Lucy used precise Water Magic to dry his clothes.

.

.

.

The level of trust that Lucy has shown him had prompted him to tell her about their destination and allowed her to witness his predicament. If it is any other person, Laxus would not allow them to take a peek at his private life.

It feels good…really good for someone to recognize something in him that even he is unaware of. He felt seen in the most genuine of ways.


And now…

"When my father died…" Lucy hesitated. "When he died, I felt at lost…because there is so much more that I have to tell him…how much he let me down, how I felt when he seemed to have abandoned me when my mother died, how angry I felt that he saw me as a showpiece to marry off to someone I abhor. I want him to live so that I can continue hating him. I want him to live to see the day that I can prove him wrong. I want him to live so that he can atone and beg for my forgiveness. I want him to earn it."

Lucy met his gaze evenly, and Laxus found himself lost at how light dances in her crystal clear eyes. "Because there is still that little voice inside my head that says that I love him."

Lucy took Laxus's hands in hers. "Laxus, do not deprive yourself of such opportunity. If you hate him, that is fine. I don't know the breadth of what you feel about your father. What I only know is that if you lose him now, there are things you would come to regret. And you don't deserve that."

'Is it really that simple?' he questioned himself. The reason why he was so conflicted and angry was because somewhere deep inside him, he loved his father?

'Yes,' the voice of a young boy…his voice when he was young, answered.

Lucy handed him a piece of parchment, naming all the contaminants inside his father's body. She proceeded to explain herself that it was not to force him into making a decision, but because she wants to apologize for insinuating that he is an A-Grade A-hole.

'Well, she's not exactly wrong...given everything that happened since she first started with the guild.'

"No, Lucy. Thank you," he said, the corner of his lips curving upwards. "Thank you for seeing me."

Lucy momentarily stiffened at those words, and Laxus wondered if he had said anything too forward. She began to turn around to face him again.

Laxus' breath hitched, and he found himself unable to look away.

A gentle smile graced Lucy's lips. Her eyes were bright, sparkling with genuine joy and gratitude. It was a warmth that drew him in. Her brows were smooth and relaxed, neither furrowed nor raised in tension. There was a certain softness to her features, a gentle roundness that adds to the overall sense of her inner purity and innocence.

Then Lucy spoke in a voice that Laxus rarely heard from her. It was the tone of voice she used so many years ago, a voice befitting that of true nobility.

"But, Laxus, you saw me first."